Beyond Life by Deb McEwan Page A

they’d have to try and bury the hatchet that Gary had used, in her opinion, to break up their once unbreakable friendship.
     
    Gary waved to Val after he dropped her off at the orphanage then watched in his rear-view mirror as she disappeared inside. They’d had a great night and he’d never shared as many of his inner feelings and hopes for the future with anyone like he had with Val. It had seemed completely natural and he knew it was too late to be careful because he’d fallen hook, line and sinker. There was no way she’d make him hurt her like Sandy and the ones before her had. Val was completely different and he’d cherish her. Despite or because of these emotions, Gary was frustrated and as horny as hell. The more he thought of Val the more he needed to dip his wick and the easiest way to do so would be with one of the youngsters. It wasn’t as if he was being unfaithful to Val if he went with a youngster – his warped brain convinced him. He’d heard good things about the new girl so phoned his manager to tell him to make sure she was ready by the time he arrived.
    *****
    Gabriella, Ron and Sandy had returned to the sofa at Cherussola and found Claire and Raphael waiting for them. When they explained what had happened, the jigsaw pieces in Claire’s mind started to fit together but she still had lots of questions.
    ‘So you reckon Big Ed has had some sort of surgery to change his appearance and he’s trying it on with Val?’
    ‘But how could that happen and where’s my mother? Are you okay, Ron? Of course you’re not, that was a stupid question. And what about you, Sandy? It must have been awful when you realised and terrifying. And how did you find out it was...’
    ‘QUIET!’ Gabriella knew that shouting was the only way to stop Claire’s stream of questions and Claire shut-up, mid flow.
    Raphael squeezed Claire’s hand and winked at his twin. Gabriella tried to ignore him and remain serious for a few minutes.
    ‘Firstly, we don’t know how that happened but assume that your mother was still at the orphanage while they stayed overnight in a hotel. Ron was deeply shocked but is okay now. It was awful for Sandy and she was terrified. And lastly, Sandy recognised Big Ed despite the fact that he must have had extensive facial surgery for no-one to realise before.’
    ‘Err, did they... um. I mean are they...’
    Claire was about as subtle as a ton of bricks thought Ron. ‘Gabriella arranged a diversion in the form of a freak storm which cooled their ardour considerably.’
    ‘Gabriella,’ said Raphael, chastising more like a father than a brother. ‘What will mother say?’
    The others realised that there were limits to what the angels should do, but this was the first time that it had been discussed in front of them. It was also the first time that they had seen anyone question Gabriella’s authority and they were fascinated by the interaction.
    ‘I won’t tell if you don’t,’ she responded.
    ‘It was my fault, Gabriella and I’ll take any punishment that your mother deems appropriate.’
    The other spirits watched as Gabriella and Raphael laughed hysterically at Ron’s comments. They had no idea why it was so funny but it wasn’t long before they joined in, the tension and worry of recent events receding like a puddle evaporating in the desert.
    The laughter eventually subsided and Ron remembered that there was a fair chance that his wife would sleep with the man who had arranged the kidnap of Claire’s stepsister, who had groomed and ruined a number of other girls, and who had abused and murdered the lovely lady sitting next to him on the sofa. He explained his worries and the group turned serious again.
    ‘The good thing for you, Ron is that he’s going to die and that may happen before there are any further developments in his relationship with Val.’
    Ron was grateful for Gabriella’s choice of words.
    ‘We all die, Gabriella, eventually,’ said Claire.
    ‘What my